in Unison - The technology Issue - 2009 by USU Students' Association at Unitec

In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 1

STU

INTERNET PORN CENSORSHIP / PARTY PHOTOS CAN FACEBOOK GET YOU A DATE? / NEWS

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www.usu.co.nz/inunison

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Issue 10

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The Technology Issue

AT ’A SSOCIATION

27/08/2009 5:07:03 p.m.

TO ! .nz ER ALL c.ac T IS ST unite G RE N Alubs@ RUusuc l

THURS 10 SEPTEMBER 10AM – 2PM IN THE HUB (BLDG 180)

COME ALONG AND EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT CULTURES AND TANTALISE YOUR TASTE BUDS OR

RUN A STALL AND REPRESENT YOUR COUNTRY BY SHOWCASING YOUR CULTURE’S DELICACIES

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OCIATION

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LEARN MORE ABOUT STUDYING ABROAD AND TALK TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE DONE AN EXCHANGE

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In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 2

27/08/2009 5:07:03 p.m.

The Technology Issue, 31st August 2009

12 14 18

regulars

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usu OCIATION

STU

Facebookin’ your way from lonely nights to Cuddle-ville Is yr cmptr mkng u smrter? Technology and Education

The truth about New Zealand’s internet censorship scheme

Exec Election Candidates

Editorial

Poll/Comics

Tirade

Fashion on Campus

News

Photos

17 23

Gig Guide

23 25

Newsbot

Dear Barbie

26 28

Student Design Reviews

Artist/Grad profile

Recipes

Whakarongo Mai Sport Column

USU STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION AT UNITEC

EDITORIAL INQUIRIES: ph. (09) 815 4321 ext 7927 inunison@unitec.ac.nz PO Box 44016, Pt Chevalier CREDITS EDITOR: Stacey Knott DESIGNER: Erin Gaffney COVER PHOTO: Erin Gaffney

In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 3

Contents

features

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: ph. (09) 815 4321 ext. 7384 usuadvertising@unitec.ac.nz

DISCLAIMER Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Submission and contributors are welcome, but the publisher reserves the right to select and edit the material submitted. Materials submitted will remain property of the publisher, unless alternative arrangements are made.

CONTRIBUTORS Joseph Harper / Rory MacKinnon / Stephanie McColl Ravi Bhat / Greg Powell / NMA / Nicholas Mark The Goose / Newsbot / Barbie / Christian Jensen / Miriam Koch

27/08/2009 5:07:05 p.m.

editorial

Cellphones

RING RING... Recently, in a drunken haze my flatmate thought it would be funny to throw his cellphone on the ground and jump on it. As expected, it didn’t work after that point, so he decided to take it apart and see what was in it. We were both surprised about what they cram into these little devices to make them work; we found plenty of weird metals and plastics and even a few mirrors. It got me thinking about where this phone was going to end up after his tinkering, and what buying such devices is doing to the world. Turns out somewhere in the mess that my flatmate made by destroying his phone was one of the world’s most sought after materials, columbite-tantalite - coltan for short, a material that has helped fuel one of the bloodiest wars in the world. When coltan is refined it is a highly heat-resistant metal powder called tantalum, a key component in everything from cellphones to computer chips to stereos to DVD players. While most coltan is sourced legally from mining operations in Australia, Canada and Brazil, some of it comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which is a lot less legitimate as rebels are using the money from their coltan sales to fund their bloody war, which since 1998 has killed about 5.4 million people.

I found there are plenty of reports that say how deadly our demands for electronics are.

”

From my digging around about this stuff, I found there are plenty of reports that say how deadly our demand for phones and other electronics are for the people of the DRC. One aid agency asserted that “much of the finance sustaining the civil wars in Africa, especially in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is directly connected to Coltan profits”. A UN Security Report said militia from Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda are behind the DRC coltan smuggling which has been a major source of income for their wars. Prisoners of war and children are forced to find the mineral and farmers have been driven off their coltan-rich land by the rebels. The demand for coltan and the DRC supplying it has resulted in the local population being looted, forced to work in the mines, kidnapped as child soldiers, killed, raped, and displaced. This link between the war in the DRC and technology’s demand for coltan has not gone unnoticed by manufacturers who are, one assumes, unintentionally helping to fuel the bloody fighting and exploitation. However, reports have shown it is

mighty hard for manufacturers to police what goes into their products, because they get their bits of metals and plastics from so many different suppliers, and in the case of coltan it goes through many hands to end up inside a phone. Reports say if it originates from the DRC it will go through at least ten hands before it ends up at its final destination so it is hard to know where it truly originates from. Despite this, there are some manufacturers, because of consumer pressure, who are taking steps in the right direction, like Nokia who say they require all suppliers to provide documentation that the coltan is not sourced from the DRC. Other than where the material comes from to make cellphones, another issue is what happens to them when they die, as the flatmates’ did, or any kind of electronic waste (e-waste) for that matter.According to Greenpeace, internationally, e-waste from developed nations either ends up in landfills or is exported to third-world countries. Neither is particularly good; if their final destination is a landfill, then that poses environmental problems when the product breaks down and ends up in the earth, with toxins potentially leaking into water supplies. In New Zealand, it has been quoted that there are about 3.8 million cellphones in our households and on average we replace these every 18 months, but if you are careful with your old phone, your environmental impact can be minimal. Over 90 percent of the materials in mobile phones can be recycled and recovered and used to make new products, the copper, plastics, circuit boards, and batteries all have their uses after you are done with them. You can easily take your old phones back to Telecom or Vodafone who will pass them on to be recycled for you. Your phone could end up as a traffic cone, bucket or copper pipe, or it might end up in the hands of some guy looking to make a few bucks in a developing nation, as Vodafone is part of a scheme that sends our working phones to people in developing nations setting up their own businesses. While there’s no denying technology is great, as we cover in this issue of In Unison, it pays to think about where your gadgets have come from, and where they end up next time Dick Smith is having a sale. Stacey Knott In Unison Editor, 2009

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In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 4

27/08/2009 5:07:06 p.m.

CAPTION COMP

etc. etc.

VOX POP

1.HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND ON THE INTERNET EACH DAY, AND WHAT OTHER ACTIVITIES DO YOU THINK YOU ARE REPLACING BY THIS? 2.WHAT IS THE WEIRDEST STATUS UPDATE YOU HAVE SEEN ON FACEBOOK/TWITTER/BEBO? 3.WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE OFFERS FROM CELLPHONE PROVIDERS IN NEW ZEALAND? JARROD MAKAEA foundation studies

A couple of hours a day, it replaces sport and study.

My friend was saying how much he loves his girlfriend, it was a bit cheesy.

I reckon they are a rip off.

For me not that much, I only use it to do assignments, it takes away from my “me time.”

2 3

I want to get F****D up. They are junk.

HOT AND NOT WHAT’S HOT

SPCA Cupcake Day! Come to the Hub Monday 31st August to buy cupcakes and help out the animals

2 3 4

Cadbury going fair-trade Spring! Blossoms, lambs and ducklings

Storms, but only when there is someone else there to enjoy them with you

Red Bull shots, ka zing!

WHAT’S NOT

Updating your Facebook status 20 times a day

2 3 4

Drug paraphernalia clothing Playing with balls in the Hub

2 to 3 hours a day I use it when I am home alone, maybe it’s replaced TV?

2 3

I’m not too sure.

They are expensive compared to overseas countries, but it reflects the population.

THIS WEEK’S PIC COME UP WITH A CAPTION FOR THIS PHOTO AND BE IN TO WIN A DOUBLE SKY CITY MOVIE PASS! Email your caption to: inunison@unitec.ac.nz Competition closes: 14th September

Etc Etc..

MALIEMAFAU HUNKIN community skills

RAY CALIVER social practice

LAST WEEK’S WINNER

“Anime Chix,This is why they draw it on paper.”

Pop-up ads on Trademe/Stuff/Youtube/the Herald sites

Island Wars TV show 5

In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 5

27/08/2009 5:07:16 p.m.

usu president’s tirade

SALAAM

Tirade

If you’re over hearing about the student accommodation village then believe me the students living there are over it too. Can you imagine arriving here in Aotearoa New Zealand, you have no money as of yet because you do not have an ATM card or NZ bank account and being told that because you can not pay your 21 weeks up front “oh well tough luck I guess you will just have to sleep under a bridge tonight”. How about moving into your lovely new apartment and finding that it is not clean, there are blood stains on the bed mattress and black mould growing everywhere because the room can not be aired for fear that it will be broken into by the gangs of Waterview. How about the fact that students, domestic and international can not get a refund unless they fill the space that they want to move out of because of the low standard of living, how wrong is that? This is wrong and USU Members I hope that you will agree and support the people being held under thumb at the Village.

WANKER OF THE WEEK…

Over the last year and a half I have fielded many a complaint about the Student Accommodation Village, everything from bed bugs and scabies, useless internet, expensive power, shocking security where ladies are being invaded by burglars whilst they are in their apartment to black mould growing on everything because of low maintenance and poor building of the apartments. To the Body Corp who actually own the buildings, boo on you for caring only about the money that lines your pockets and the not giving a damn about the students that live in your neglect and the lack of ability to get a refund for your lack of quality and base line living standards. Body Corp you truly are the BIGGEST WANKERS I have ever had the misfortune to deal with.

DUDE OF THE DAY…

To the students that live in the village, the people that use Unitec the most. For sticking in there and doing the work that is academia, for completing your studies regardless of the unhealthy, unsafe environment that you have been forced into. For just simply being the good guys, you all are the DUDES and DUDETTES of Unitec... Yours because I care, Greg Powell USU Student President 2009

ADAM

General Exec usu@unitec.ac.nz

TOGIA

General Exec usu@unitec.ac.nz

PETE

General Exec usu@unitec.ac.nz

Treasurer usu@unitec.ac.nz

THARINDU

MANUEL

Post-Graduate Rep usu@unitec.ac.nz

Maori Rep usu@unitec.ac.nz

HANELLE

NATASCHA

International Rep usu@unitec.ac.nz

DIANE

Waitakere Rep usu@unitec.ac.nz

AJAY

Vice President usuvp@unitec.ac.nz

THE USU EXEC

usu

In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 6

27/08/2009 5:07:26 p.m.

Is doing a bachelor of interior architecture. We lover her casual style.

news

ANASTACIA VOROBYEVA

fashion on campus

FASHION ON CAMPUS

CH-CH-CHANGES PISS PEOPLE OFF

By Joseph Harper

Does foundation studies at Waitakere. Broken arms are so hot right now.

YASMIN MANU

At Waitakere doing foundation studies. She rocks the street style

JONATHAN LOGAN

Is doing a bachelor of design. He is wearing a piece of art that his friend made.

Read me

CHRISTIAN GILLESPIE

Restructuring Unitec’s Mount Albert campus in the name of progress, improvement and a “campus of the future”, has ruffled the feathers of a few departments. The restructure which involves changes to the way student services operates and aiming to increase potential for growth will result in the relocation of several departments. An e-newsletter sent out by Unitec briefly outlined the relocations and noted the departments who will be effected, including Health Sciences, Communications, Design and Visual Arts, Natural Sciences, and Education. The newsletter labelled the relocations as a “shortterm disruption as we refurbish, remodel and reconfigure some of our buildings” it promised that “we’ll be doing all we can to keep disturbance to a minimum and to ensure that you can enjoy the benefit of these improvements as soon as possible.” In spite of these promises, some departments feel that the restructure has been poorly organised, and communication with staff members about changes has been limited and therefore detrimental overall. At a recent meeting of the Unitec Council, many staff members were present and made their views known. Dr Diane Fraser and Mark Farnworth, both of the Natural Sciences department, expressed concern at the way the restructuring has been undertaken. Dr Fraser made it clear that it was the lack of communication and consultation with her department that she found irksome. ”I can totally understand why Unitec is doing some of the things its doing, it’s more the process.” She was surprised about receiving an email which merely detailed the changes that were happening whether her department agreed or not, and was “extremely disappointed” with the lack of consultation. Mr Farnworth felt that he and his department had not received any support or investment from the institution despite all they have done for Unitec, and noted that, “staff morale within our department is extremely low because of a very poorly managed move.” The natural sciences department is also feeling extremely aggrieved by what they perceive as logistical problems with the relocation, and also worries about possible detrimental impact to the welfare of animals in their care. Unitec chief executive Rick Ede addressed some of these concerns in a recent newsletter: “Consultation over these moves did not take place, as decisions are part of a strategic approach to consolidate as much of our teaching and learning activity to the northern and southern campus precincts. I will not demean the consultation process by consulting on a decision that was not going to be changed as a consequence of the feedback received. I accept that this may be unpalatable to some staff. I also accept that the communication of this information could have been handled better, particularly as regards the rationale and opportunities.”

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In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 7

27/08/2009 5:07:39 p.m.

news

UNITEC STAFF VERY UNHAPPY WITH HEAD HONCHOS By Stacey Knott

Read me...

Academic staff morale is at an all time low due to the pressures the Unitec senior executive have been putting on staff, the Unitec Council recently heard. At a council meeting on August 10 members heard a long list of complaints complied by Unitec academic staff representative Jan Patterson. Ms Patterson says “a large number of staff have indicated that they are very dissatisfied with the management of Unitec by the chief executive and his management team.” She also outlined the impact the problems are having and will have on students. The comments come after academic staff members raised concerns about the proposed changes to the institution, most of them under the Sustainability Project –Unitec’s plan to cut costs and save money through a large series of restructuring across the institution. She had comments from lecturers, managers and heads of departments. A common complaint was staff felt they were being ignored and not included in the decision making process, that despite how much time they spend providing feedback to proposed changes, they are effectively ignored. However, Unitec chief executive Rick Ede says he takes issue with the accusation. He says they have been very thorough with gaining staff feedback. “We listen to every piece of input

(but) listening is one thing; consultation does not mean adapting the response to every single input we get.” Staff also felt the leadership team did not understand how existing Unitec systems function, and were rushing to make big changes without thinking of the effects on staff and students. Another person wrote “staff feel they just cannot sit powerlessly and watch how Unitec is heading towards its own destruction.” They also felt that their workloads were too high and this is at the expense of quality. “If bosses want high school level of teaching - we can deliver that, but with this workload it is impossible to do research, be current and innovative and create new paradigms in areas of our expertise,” one comment said. Further, another commented that this is causing them to lose their uniqueness and their quality students because lecturers cannot provide them with quality time necessary for learning at this level. They felt there was no rationale behind the changes, that there has been no indication of a problem with the current situation. Ms Patterson also brought up the need to review and evaluate the management at Unitec, with the ability to provide anonymous feedback from those who are being managed – something akin to the SEQUALS that students write on academic staff.

Staff said that the culmination of these problems felt “as if a huge train is leaving the station down a wrong track and they are still on the platform.” Dr Ede says the Council decided to keep with the changes proposed because they are “each seen as being in the best long-term interests of students and staff.” In regards to the low morale and uneasy relationship with the senior executive, Dr Ede says he will “ensure that appropriate, ongoing communication is maintained” with all staff. He says the low morale is because of uncertainty in the institution, but as plans start to come to fruition, morale should lift. When asked about comments the staff had made, that indicated a lack of faith in Dr Ede and his executive’s abilities, he says “every staff member has the right to express their opinion about the changes. “I’m prepared to be judged on the record of Unitec’s performance over time as will my team.” Of the comments that were quite personal towards various executive members, Dr Ede says they were “not appropriate, not professional and not tolerable under our Code of Conduct.” He believes some of the comments were demeaning or derogatory. “I expect all staff to treat each other with respect and tolerance throughout such debates, and to maintain a professional demeanour. There are no grounds for anyone to turn these disagreements into personal attacks.”

UNITEC LECTURERS MIGHT BE STRIKING

Unitec academic staff are considering striking to better their working conditions. On August 21 over 230 academic staff were invited to attend the Unitec stop work meeting to take to the polls over the move for further possible industrial action. Negotiations between the Tertiary Education Union (TEU) and employers at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, NorthTec, Whitireia, WINTEC,WITT and Unitec have adjourned after an offer was put on the table. The offer includes a one percent salary rise with no back dating, a 24 month term from the date of signing, all discretionary leave at the employer’s discretion, an increase

By Nicholas Mark

to teaching days from 185 to 204 it will also see a working party setup to identify ways to improve productivity of staff. However, more hours could mean less quality in delivery of education TEU national industrial officer Irena Brorens says. “Academics cannot continue to provide the same level of teaching and learning when they are being asked to sacrifice the time they spend preparing, marking, assessing and researching so that they can teach longer and longer hours.” Sarah Hardman the Unitec TEU branch chair told the USU Executive meeting academic staff don’t want to take industrial action as this will set back their students and

impede their learning. Unitec has over 450 full time academic staff. In the past it has been accused of not supporting unions, In Unison asked Unitec chief executive Rick Ede if this was the case, but he felt the accusation was unfair. “I don’t buy it myself, I have no view whatsoever if staff are in unions or not, it’s individual choice.” Dr Ede would not comment on Unitec’s position with the TEU saying, “It’s not good faith bargaining to get into that,” but said they were committed to negotiate. The results of the poll to take industrial action will be known on the 4th September 2009.

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In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 8

27/08/2009 5:07:39 p.m.

news

EXEC GET PAID; PRESIDENT DEFENDS THEIR JOBS Details of what the USU executive have been doing to earn their honararia last semester was recently released to In Unison. The executive members are paid based on amounts set out in the USU constitution on the condition that they meet certain responsibilities. The requirements are mostly to do with simply attending fortnightly executive meetings; but there is another portion of the payment which is delegated to other committee work performance and extra work. The report laid out what the exec has done to earn their payments mostly contained irrelevant back-patting and glowing recaps of the minutes of previous meetings, it also revealed that members Adam Brakey and Diane Monteith have not been attending Unitec committee meetings.

USU student president Greg Powell stood firmly behind his executive members when spoken to about the reports and payments, though he admitted that there are possible failings in the group. “I think they’ve done a better job than I’ve ever seen in a (USU) executive...I still think that some of the executive could pick up their game, when it comes to say, committees...but all in all they’re the best I’ve seen.” He also made it extremely clear that the amount each member of the exec has been paid is entirely individual and relates directly to their performance and achievements based on the responsibilities set out in the constitution, and that those who have not sat on committees have not received the portion of their honoraria which relates to that work. Powell expressed disappointment in

UNITEC PAYMENT HELPS USU BUDGET STAY ON TRACK By Stacey Knott The USU was kept well in the black because of a payment from Unitec, a recent budget report showed. The report looks at what the USU has been doing between January 1 and June 31 and where its money, (mostly student fees) was being spent, and if the USU was meeting its self-imposed targets which gauge its success. Written by USU general manager Richard Neal, the report shows the budget was running 14 percent in excess of predicted profit. This was mainly because of $20 000 unaccounted for income from a payment from Unitec for the Sounds in the Sun event in the February orientation. Without this income, the budget would still be $666 within its limit. The report shows more students have been using USU services than expected, especially so in the education department, which has seen a huge growth in the amount of people using the advocacy service.This department has also

been doing more submissions to Unitec over some of the sustainability projects and the Student Disciplinary Statute (to Academic Board). The department, which was under budget for this period has been considerably busy, Mr Neal says the staff “have been pushed to say the least.” In the social activities and student experience part of the report, which includes events, sports, clubs and the international programme, Mr Neal revealed orientation was more ambitious and the orientation event Sounds in the Sun had over 8000 attendees, 2000 more than expected. He says “events management continues to be high risk and needs to be very carefully managed.” The report shows events exceeded its budget due to the greater than expected numbers at the Sounds in the Sun and low sales for the Black Seeds, however, the payment from Unitec brought the department into line. The report showed the sport department’s budget was poor

Me too...

By Joseph Harper

Adam Brakey who had failed to attend the meeting for the one committee he was on, and stressed how important he feels attending them are. “We fight for those roles. And if they’re there, you damn well turn up to them.” He also noted a personal involvement in a large number of committees. Powell also spoke of some major successes achieved by himself and his executive, one of which being the recent blanket 5 percent rise in domestic student fees, which Powell says he personally disputed and managed to get down a blanket 3.6 percent raise. Another was in relation to Unitec’s Residential Village which he has been championing for change over. President’s right of reply: I am only allowed 14 words to defend Diane Monteith.

because of a blow-out at Uni Games, whereas self-directed sport, like basketball has been more popular. While the clubs and international programmes were on budget, events and sport had overspent by $9,569. Also within its budget was the communications and media department, as was the USU executive, however, they had blown their expenses and entertainment budget. The general manager, accounts and administration areas of the report showed a blow-out in their budgets by just over $8000 too, because of bad debts, unexpected phone charges and increased accounting costs. Despite the blown budgets, Neal’s report stated the USU is tracking above its budget targets, but “there are some variations within social activities and executive that needs to be monitored.”

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In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 9

27/08/2009 5:07:39 p.m.

news

BONNIE AND CLYDE ROB STUDENTS IN THE RESIDENTIAL VILLAGE

Read me...

By Miriam Koch International students at the Residential Village have been traumatized by a recent series of burglaries. Residents living in buildings 310 and 1510 had their apartments broken into between Friday August 15 and Monday August 17. Building 1510, behind Oakley Creek had already been the victim of several previous break-ins. Over the weekend five apartments at 310 were robbed in less than 72 hours. Residents found their laptops missing, and one girl was robbed of half of her wardrobe. The burglars have been described as one big man and one thin person. The police only found light fingerprints at the crime scene and assumed a girl was behind the break-ins. The team, apparently one male and one female, seem to work hand-in-hand, breaking the hinges holding the single glass windows leaving enough space for the woman to climb in. Their description has elicited comparisons to famous crime duo Bonnie and Clyde. Julie Räthlein, an exchange student from Germany, only had time to call her neighbour who saw the burglars running away. She was lucky enough to hear the intruders before they stole anything. “I was in my living room, when I suddenly hear a weird noise. So I called my neighbour to check on it, and he just saw two people running away into the dark. They had already broken open the window,” she recalls. “It was a horrible feeling, knowing that two guys broke into my flat while I was alone. Now I’m fine, but it’s a strange feeling coming back into my flat.” she says. Ally Burne, another student living in the Village was not so lucky. “They only stole my laptop, although I had a brand new iPod lying right next to it,” she says. The police have been on and off the campus, yet security measures have not been increased. Except for a security guard patrolling around the Village at night and bars that are to be put in front of the windows in three weeks time, nothing has changed. “The security measures are really miserable, the guys needed two minutes to break into my apartment,” says Miss Räthlein. The windows have hardly any resistance and the bedrooms doors can be easily opened with a credit card. In the effort to hide those precious electronic possessions from the intruders, many have resorted to creative solutions. One extremely interesting hiding spot was the oven, a somewhat critical hiding place if forgotten about it.

EXECUTION, 20 AUGUST: By Stacey Knott The exec room was jam packed with aspiring politicians and Unitec staff in the latest USU exec meeting. It opened with Unitec Tertiary Education Union (TEU) representative Sarah Hardman who addressed the exec about the union’s planned stop-work meeting, scheduled to happen the day after the meeting. After Hardman gave a quick explanation about what was going on with the TEU, USU president Greg Powell tried to negotiate a deal with Hardman, asking if the USU supports the TEU, will the TEU support the USU’s bids to get SEQUALS transparent (the USU want to be able to see the results from assessments and reviews students do on their lectures and programmes). Hardman was surprised by the request, telling Powell his proposal “has nothing to do with what is going on for them (the TEU).” She said generally the TEU would be in favour of transparency but this was a completely separate issue, and “nothing to do with our agreements.” Hardman said this should be discussed in a different forum, and that the TEU campaigned for quality education and academic development but “we are talking about a slightly different thing to students.” Powell, going back to the stop-work meeting, asked Hardman why they were doing it, her response was limited, saying she could not really tell them what it was all about because of their good faith agreements. Maori representative Hannelle Harris was vividly agitated at the disruption the meeting would have to her class when she told Hardman that she had been kicked out of a room they were using because of the TEU action. Hardman said this would be because of the health and safety aspects created by having less teachers on campus over the meeting. Powell then noted that the USU is there to support students and get them quality education, and Hardman responded by telling the exec the quality of education academic staff can give depends on the quality of working conditions Unitec gives them. Getting to the crux of the issue she said the problem lay in the working conditions Unitec has proposed to union members, however, they did not want this dispute to resolve in a strike. “Academic staff find it really bloody hard to go on strike because they don’t want to leave their students,” she said. Nothing was really decided over this issue so the exec moved on to the next topic, namely the USU budget report from January to June this year. Presented by USU general manager Richard Neal, the report was broken into the different departments showing who had blown their budgets, and who had stuck to theirs. Neal said events had blown theirs by almost $10 000, mainly because of Sounds in the Sun and the Black Seeds events. The education and communications departments were on track, as was the executive except they had blown their entertainment budget, and administration and general manager line had blown theirs by about $8000 due to phone charges, a bad debt from an advertiser and increased accountancy costs. However, mainly because of a payment from Unitec for the success of Sounds in the Sun, the USU’s half yearly report on the budget showed they were 14 percent up. Overall Neal noted the USU “was doing OK.”

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27/08/2009 5:07:39 p.m.

Unitec is planning to sign a contract with the Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying ITO Ltd which some staff say could end several successful Unitec programmes, and will lead numerous staff to quit. For about nine years, Unitec has offered its own programmes leading to National Certificates in Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying, which have been developed, moderated and approved according to Unitec policies and the requirements of the Education Act. New Unitec programmes were approved by the Unitec Academic Board last year to deliver the new qualifications which came into force in January 2009. The Unitec programmes were requested by the department’s Advisory Committee, and recommended by the Programme Committee. At the same time, both bodies considered a programme being proposed by the Plumbing ITO, and rejected it on educational and practical grounds. It is claimed by staff members who analysed the ITO programme that it lacked virtually all the characteristics required of a viable programme, with no proper delivery material, and assessments which were incomplete and written at the wrong level. Despite these concerns, Unitec chief executive Rick Ede says they are negotiating with the ITO but will eventually sign a contact with them, as he says he does not want Unitec to miss out on being part of the national system of plumbing and gasfitting education. In Unison has spoken to several staff members in the plumbing department, who do not wish to be identified as they say they are now living in a climate of fear. They say they are worried about their jobs, the future of their industry and for the wellbeing of their students. It is understood about eight staff are considering resigning over this issue. One staff member described the ITO programme as “completely undeliverable and substandard and not fit for purpose in all respects.” He says it is written at a level far lower than it should be, and the assessments cut out about 80 percent of what should be tested, he believes it is designed so it is almost impossible to fail.

The Unitec programme for the National Certificate in Plumbing and Gasfitting requires the completion of distance learning over four years, linked to a series of two week block courses where theory is integrated into the practical skills. There are a total of 22 weeks of block courses over the 4 year programme. This contrasts with only 11 weeks of block courses in the ITO programme. Plumbing Head of Department, Garry Cruickshank, has been suspended and faces dismissal following a complaint from lawyers acting for the ITO, regarding letters sent by Mr Cruickshank advising students and their employers to carefully consider the merits of both programmes before deciding which one to enrol in. Other staff members in the faculty have also expressed serious concern at the developments, as almost all the trade programmes run at Unitec fall into the same category of local qualifications as the plumbing programmes, including the Certificate of Applied Technology, which is the single largest programme at Unitec. It is feared that if the same policy is used in their own departments, it will lead to redundancies and a general lowering of standards. A letter sent by Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics Quality to Unitec regarding courses and programmes offered by ITOs confirms that they are not able to have courses and programmes approved, and that only programmes offered through providers like Unitec are able to be approved, and courses offered by ITOs are not eligible for funding. Staff say if this move is allowed Unitec stands to lose the programmes already set up and will lose up to 250 EFTS making the department unviable. It will also lower the student to staff ratio, currently at 24-1, the best in Unitec, down to 11-1, which will also mean losing a third of the staff. “If Unitec ends up agreeing to that process then the entire basis of UATI collapse,” a staff member says. Dr Ede says concerned staff need to “take a deep breath” and work with the deans and himself over what they are trying to achieve. He says Unitec “cannot afford to be left out in the cold” over this issue, and believes the concerns over the ITO are not justified.

By Stacey Knott

Right wingers and libertarians’ voluntary student membership (VSM) dream might be coming to fruition. ACT party member Sir Roger Douglas had a Private Members Bill pulled from the ballot box on August 21. The Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill’s purpose is to “uphold students’ right to freedom of association, by ensuring that no student is compelled to join a students association.” It says the current system of compulsory membership is contrary to the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. Currently, all students at Unitec automatically pay about $100 a year to be part of the USU. If they don’t want to pay this, they can object and not be part of the USU but the money will go to charity instead, or they can claim hardship and not pay it at all. If Sir Douglas’ Bill is passed all students would be able to choose whether or not to join the USU. Sir Douglas said the drawing of his Bill is “the first step in liberating students from the flawed and out-dated law that forces them to join their local student association and steals their right to make their own decisions.” He says student associations lack accountability and seem like they cannot properly manage the pool of money their compulsory fees create. He also says they are not truly representative of a whole student body; “most are dominated by a small minority of student politicians who prefer to push their own agenda and promote their own views rather than those of the majority.” However, in an earlier issue of In Unison on the subject of VSM, USU student president Greg Powell said if the USU went back to VSM, there maybe no guarantees whether students would be properly engaged with over restructures and changes to Unitec. “They would have less access to Unitec committees or information and would more or less be in the dark.” If this VSM Bill was made law, Powell predicts the association could either die or get into a compromising position with a funding agreement with Unitec. “If that remains their only funding source then it becomes difficult to defend the independence and credibility of a students’ association.” In Unison will keep you up to date over the progression of this bill.

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In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 11

news

By Stacey Knott

SMUG IN UNISON WAS RIGHT;VSM IS BACK ON THE AGENDA

Me too...

PLUMBING PROGRAMME TO GO DOWN THE GURGLER?

27/08/2009 5:07:39 p.m.

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\\FACEBOOKIN’ YOUR WAY FROM LONELY NIGHTS TO CUDDLE-VILLE\\ Let’s face it folks; given the current state of digital social networking in our lives, we’re about two steps away from a skynet-esque global meltdown. With this in mind Joseph Harper sets out to show you how to make the most of your Facebook while this cyber golden age lasts...

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In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 12

27/08/2009 5:07:42 p.m.

@JakeHurwitz JakeBabe. Got2talk2U. Its Not working. Sorry. NotU. Me. K. See you. BiBiBaby. Concise, to the point, and yet emotionally comforting. Also worth noting that you’ve still got fifty characters to fiddle with, so if you want to get really supportive, chuck in some xs or os, or both. After that, it’s time to advertise. Nothing says single like changing your relationship status on Facebook. I tested this out myself to see if I’d get the desired results, and boy did I ever. Within five minutes of making the change I had two wall posts, and had been engaged in four Facebook chats in which my romantic status was discussed. “What? But you and Sophia were so awesome together!” said one “friend”. “Single city bro!” said another. As well as marketing the fact that you’re on the prowl, the status change will allow you to scope out any potential that may have previously gone unnoticed. You should notice immediately any fishes that start stirring, if they change their status to single as well is an obvious attempt at accentuation. But you shouldn’t feel limited to the babes/bros who appear interested. With Facebook on your side, the world is quite simply your oyster. Any girl/guy is accomplishable.

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Hey, we’ve all been there. You’ve got a girlfriend, or boyfriend, and it’s all smooth sailing, picnics, and Sunday morning trips to the Domain; but it’s just not working. Not even that. It’s working fine, but you’re bored of him/her/it. Don’t be ashamed, it’s perfectly natural. As Neil Postman discusses in his book, Amusing Ourselves To Death, television, cinema, and the internet, have had a massively detrimental effect on the attention span of our society at large. Just as we can no longer easily spend hour upon hour engrossed in a single topic of debate or subject matter (which shows through in the lengths of popular Youtube videos, and the faster cutting/editing tempo of feature films, television programmes et al) we can no longer put our focus on a single bro/babe for an extended period of time. Marriage? Old hat! A lucid flow of partner to partner is now the way in which our minds want us to focus relationshipwise. (Sorry Sophia.) But how can one operate this way? I hear what you’re saying, you’re no smooth operator. You’re no pimp daddy cane. I’m just a nerdy dude/ette who spends too much time on my computer. Sure, I can snare myself a partner; but I wouldn’t dare break up with them for fears of not finding another! The answer, my friend, is right in front of you! Your laptop or desktop computer is the pickaxe with which you can climb to the top of Hottie Mountain. First off, you’re going to have to lose the current drag on your arm. Breaking up is not going to be easy. Especially if there’s genuine love, feelings, or clinginess involved. I advise detachment. Email is your friend. Just like writing a letter, but it’s easier to maintain nice penmanship. Better yet, TWITTER. Here’s an example tweet (note the clever time savers utilised in order to stick under that 140 character limit):

Choosing is probably the toughest bit. It’s easier if you choose from within your “friends”, as that way you have easy access to pictures without having to trawl through album after album of ’Rad Timez On Saturday!’ in order to catch a solitary glimpse of the object of your desire, and to be honest she/he will usually just be in the background, in raptor-like profile, sipping something that will likely turn you off (goon). Use the relative cornucopia of photographic information that is available on Facebook to select your prey. Let’s be honest, we are wallowing in an extremely shallow and callous discussion here; let’s not lower its hedonistic integrity by taking into consideration anything other than pure and massively superficial aesthetics. After selecting your new target - and this is where the manipulation/fun really begins, - it’s time to plan a course of action. It’s easy to be attractive to a person if you know what attracts them; and luckily for us, the vast quantities of information people willingly spill out into the public domain by way of Twitter, Blogspot, Facebook, and the multitude of other self-promotion opportunities, means finding out what people want you to be has never been easier. It’s quite simply a matter of browsing the info tab on a person’s Facebook profile, and you’ll be able to mould yourself into their ideal mate. Find out what movies, bands, etc, they like, then Wikipedia them to gain an awesome insight into it. That stuff is now what you’re into. You no longer care for the work of Akira Kurosawa. You now live for repeat viewings of The Notebook, and constantly sing along to the legendary sounds of Boyzone. If you do your research, and manage to (at least) semiconvincingly play the role, conversation should go a little something like this the next time you meet: *Sees girl of choice. Puts white iPod earphones in ears. Turns up tune so it is almost audible to everyone around him. Schmoozes up to girl.* Joseph: Oh hey Betty. Betty: Hey. Good weekend? *Pretend to not hear because of iPod. Then take out earphones.* J: Sorry. What? I didn’t hear. I just can’t stop listening to this Midnight Youth song. B: You like the Midnight Youth?! J: Of course. Why? B: I’m like their biggest fan. J: Get out of town! B: Seriously! J: That is crazy! I love...that song...the one that goes...“oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh”. So beautiful. B: I know right!? I love singing along to that bit! J: Me too. Wow, that’s nutty. Who would’ve thought... Obviously at this point, he/she will be putty. Overwhelmed and completely wooed by the connection you share. Mission accomplished. And by the time your mate realises the ploy, you’ll have grown bored and can happily move onto your next choice cut. It’s a sweet, sweet circle of life.

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In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 13

27/08/2009 5:07:44 p.m.

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IS YR CMPTR MKNG U SMRTER?

Technology and Education

In the early 1990s computers began to find their ways into New Zealand homes and the internet soon followed, then cellphones became welded to people’s hands, setting technology as a prominent medium to communicate. But that’s not where it ends, it has also been harnessed by educators to help teach, but is this really working, or is technology hindering learning? Stacey Knott looks at technology’s effects on education. Texting; is it destroying language and spelling?

Out with the old and in with the new is the mantra when new technologies are invented, but for some, this creates fears that society is going backwards. For example, when the Biro pen was invented and replaced the fountain pen, people were afraid the change would destroy handwriting. Likewise, ever since texting became a prominent form of communication, there have been grave fears about it encroaching on people’s ability to write and spell correctly. Back in 2006, the Herald reported NCEA was going to allow abbreviated forms of language (text language) in some school exams; the condition was that the answers would clearly show the required understanding, and correct spelling

would still be required in English exams. The story sparked pages of comments from readers on the Herald website, the overwhelming majority were very opposed to the idea of using text language in place of written answers. One commenter, Claude Moffat said it showed a laziness and degradation of society; “Correct English written and spoken is a must to preserve access to what we have and to enable understanding to be possible,” he declared. Whereas a commenter named Kieran wrote that the move just reflected the changing times; “It’s simply an evolution of the language. The same sort of evolution in language that has been occurring since the English language was even first thought of. Do any of you out there speak in Shakespearian English? No? I didn’t think so, but it’s how English was often

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In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 14

27/08/2009 5:07:45 p.m.

Changing world Unless every computer implodes and power sources are cut, this reliance on technology isn’t going to reverse anytime soon, so why beat it when you can join it? Gladstone Primary School is a testament to this. Every class in the school has a minimum of five computers and the school also has a computer lab. Further, about half of the classes have interactive whiteboards. The school integrates technology into every subject. The computers are all connected to the internet and are used to research, do PowerPoint presentations and teach skills such as maths, spelling and reading. The maths programmes can be accessed from home to do homework. Oates says the computers are a great motivational tool for the children, especially for boys who love games. But there is a glaring gap this technology can create, as Hanifin notes is the case at unitec. “When you consider that teaching staff by definition are going to be older, there’s a lot of professional development and training needed to help the teaching staff learn and keep up to date and understand the demands of these news texts.” In order to be able to use technology to help teach, Hanifin says lecturers need to be able to navigate the texts and understand the codes too. At the same time, students need to know how to be discerning about what they find on the internet. This is something Oates says they need to teach the primary school children, who tend to take everything they read on the internet as the truth. Wikipedia for example has been the bane of many lecturers’ lives when students copy and paste the information with no regard for who wrote it we have all heard time and again, it is not a credible source. It all depends on how we use the technology as to how it can improve our abilities and smarts. You can get software to teach maths, languages, spelling, and science, basically anything you may require. Unitec’s Applied Technology Institution (UATI) is arguably the biggest user of innovative technology at Unitec. The plumbing department has developed a software programme for students to learn their theory and science in place of text books. They are also developing a carpentry one along the same lines.

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spoken back in the day. Language is not a static entity. It is dynamic, and if you dinosaurs don’t want to adapt to change, then you will die out.” Unitec Te Puna Ako academic adviser Trisha Hanifin says this new language has not been around long enough to make decisions either way, but she believes young people are smart enough to know what language is required when. Fears that handwriting is becoming obsolete with new technology are also unfounded, says head of English at Gladstone Primary School Stephanie Oates. In the school curriculum children still have to get taught handwriting and write in their school books everyday. However, handing in a written assignment has changed at Gladstone, as all assignments must by typed up. Oates says this reflects what is going to be expected of them when they move on to higher education. Overall though, she says technology is hugely positive for their education, and its preparing them for the real world where technology is a firm and stable part of everyday life.

The programme, called an E-Book has active animations, video, diagrams and tables to enhance learning and understanding. Lecturers Don Mardle and Nick Fleckney worked with third year computing students to develop the programme. It has about 2500 pages worth of information, and is designed to cover a four year apprenticeship. They have been using the programme for about 9 months and students can use it to do virtual reality experiments that they might not be able to otherwise do. There is also a roll over glossary to describe what technical terms mean and they are looking at adding pictures, links and calculations to this. Mardle says the programme has seen improvements in student’s exam marks. UATI also uses Smartboards - interactive, touch screen boards which have replaced whiteboards. Lecturers are able to put their whole lesson plans on them, like a PowerPoint presentation but more interactive. The faculty is also using Clickers, devices much like what are used in game or reality TV shows for voting. Each student has a clicker, and so is allocated an anonymous number. The lecturer will post a multi-choice question on the Smartboard, and the students will have a certain timeframe to answer it. Fleckney says this helps the lecturers to understand where students are struggling. “Sometimes they are a little shy it they don’t understand. We can pick up who might not understand concepts, and target learning difficulties,” he says.

So what is technology doing to our smarts? Is the verdict out? Not yet, says Hanifin: “If you think about how long written text has been around there’s been at least a couple of thousand years for us to say what the effect on humans is like. I’m not sure the science is in and how many studies have been done. I think we need to wait a bit longer before we make big pronouncements and need to be observant about cognitive skills.” There’s no denying television, computers, cellphones and videogames are stopping people from picking up a pen and paper or a book, the new technologies are creating an unprecedented amount of choice over what to do with our spare time. It means that cognitively, we are doing things differently. Going on Facebook still means we have to read and decipher images and texts, but not in the conventional sense of reading a book where the reader is required to infer what is happening and do some work. With television and websites, it’s all there and you have to do little work. Hanifin says for some people, this change in reading feels like a great loss. Some more serious concerns are about young people forgoing human contact for internet socialising, which can stunt emotional growth and social skills. Likewise, there are concerns about young people being up all night on the internet and then being too tired for study the next day, affecting how they function in the class, and so, how they will retain knowledge. But when it comes to education and technology, Hanifin says its affects come down to how we use it, not how it uses us. She says the technology has to be used with an educational purpose in mind, and that should be driving its use if it is being used in class.

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In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 15

27/08/2009 5:07:47 p.m.

photos PHOTOS BY: Raymie MORE PHOTOS OF THESE EVENTS AT WWW.USU.CO.NZ

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In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 16

27/08/2009 5:08:07 p.m.

R LL! .ac.n c TE IS STAunite G RE N Alubs@ RUusuc l

gig guide

USU International Events

ROTORUA TRIP August 7th - 8th

GIG GUIDE FEATURED EVENT / 10TH SEPT USU PRESENTS

THURS SEPTEMBER – 2PM I N T E10 RN AT I O N A10AM L IN THE HUB (BLDG 180) FCOME OALONG O DANDDAY EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT CULTURES AND TANTALISE TASTE C BUDS 10-2, THE HUB, MT YOUR ALBERT AMPUS OR

RUN WWW.USU.CO.NZ A STALL AND REPRESENT YOUR COUNTRY BY SHOWCASING YOUR VISIT FOR MORE DETAILS CULTURE’S DELICACIES LEARN MORE ABOUT STUDYING ABROAD AND TALK TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE DONE AN EXCHANGE

’A SS

ITE

usu OCIATION

STU N

AU G U S T 3 1 - S E P T E M B E R 1 3 AT

31 MON

SPCA CupCake Day The Department of Computing has made delicious cupcakes that will be for sale in The Hub to raise money for the SPCA. Buy a yummy cup cake and support a great cause!

WWW.USU.CO.NZ

WEDS

Local Vocal Crew Playing in the Hub at lunch time Give it a Girl funk, indie, pop, Sky City Theatre.

04 FRI Tag Tournament A fun one-day oncampus tournament with a free BBQ lunch and prizes for the winners. Register a team of 8-12 players at USU Reception

WEDS

Contemporary Dance Festival Year 2 students present a stunning visual feast in this season of exciting group works. Tickets from www.iticket.co.nz. Wed 9 – Sat 12 September 7pm

11 FRI Ewen Gilmour – Live out West Ewen Gilmour, one of New Zealand’s great comedy icons will be performing at the Waitakere campus with special guests Jeremy Elwood and Simon McKinney

THUR

12 SAT Cobra Khan,The Freudoids, Crime Wave indie, punk, rock. Whammy Bar, CBD Going West Literary Weekend @ Titirangi War Memorial Hall Featuring leading contemporary NZ writers. www. goingwest.co.nz Sept 11 - 13

International Food Day Come along and experience different cultures, tantalise your taste buds and learn more about studying abroad, in the Hub from 10am-2pm

UPCOMING EVENT USU’s Rich and Famous Party, Friday 25th September 17

In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 17

27/08/2009 5:08:23 p.m.

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Denial of Service: The truth about New Zealand’s internet censorship scheme When National swept into power last year, pundits described it as a backlash against Labour’s supposed ‘nanny state’. But the decision to combat child pornography with a government-run internet filtering scheme raises serious questions about the future of New Zealand’s digital landscape. Rory MacKinnon explores. Kiddie porn: it’s a phrase that evokes outrage and revulsion, inviting righteous anger by its very colloquialism. There is no equivalent term for genocide, for religious or political violence, only for this cruel robbery of a child’s innocence. Even as we use the term we acknowledge its ubiquity, and in no place is child pornography more concentrated than the internet. The internet’s opportunities for anonymous networking have fostered child sex abuse in a way that no other medium could. Since the proliferation of personal dial-up in 1997 the estimated number of illicit images have skyrocketed by nearly 2000 percent. According to the US Department of Justice more than a million are now in circulation, with a further 200 uploaded each day. With this in mind, it’s no wonder that New Zealand has toughened its stance on child pornography. The penalty for possession has increased from a $2000 fine to either $10,000 or five years imprisonment; the penalty for distribution has doubled to ten. Meanwhile 2005’s Operation Tercel saw 27 arrests made by Customs, police and Internal Affairs, with a further 56 convictions since then. But the Government’s latest broadside - the Digital Child Exploitation Filtering System, due to launch before the end of the year - goes well beyond the scope of investigation. It uses a secret blacklist to restrict public access, and in doing so throws up serious questions about creeping conservatism and the internet’s ambiguous status under existing censorship legislation.

Noble cause, or fool’s errand? The problem, according to Wellington systems administrator Thomas Beagle, is that it won’t work. Beagle first learned of the scheme back in 2008, through industry contacts and occasional briefs in Computerworld magazine. Soon the sheer scale of the project prompted him to begin an ongoing investigation on his blog. “As I became more aware of what was happening, I assumed that someone was going to start jumping up and down pointing out the obvious flaws in the plan. That didn’t happen, so I decided that I’d better be the one to do it.” Beagle’s correspondence with the Department of Internal Affairs confirmed the following: the department was planning to purchase Netclean Whitebox, a program that would redirect users’ URL requests to a government-owned server and check them against a database of banned pages. Any matches would be denied

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In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 18

27/08/2009 5:08:24 p.m.

They’ve got a little list Well, perhaps not. Internet filtering has run into all sorts of problems overseas, since a blacklist can only work effectively if its contents are concealed from the public. In Iran, China and Thailand, blacklisting has been used for overtly anti-democratic purposes, but even ostensibly liberal societies have been affected by overzealous blacklisting. Compulsory filtering in the United Kingdom uses a blacklist compiled by the Internet Watch Foundation, originally strictly limited to child pornography. But since its launch in 2004 the blacklist’s remit has expanded to include “incitement to racial hatred” and “extreme pornography”. Likewise, the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s blacklist has been found to include euthanasia and anti-abortion campaigns, straight and gay pornography, a handful of small businesses and Wikileaks, an anti-censorship website which hosts details of various countries’ blacklisting schemes. Already there is some confusion over the scope of New Zealand’s scheme – while both Manch and Internal Affairs minister Nathan Guy have stipulated the list will focus “solely on clearly objectionable images of child sexual abuse”, an email from the department’s communications spokesperson Trevor Henry tells a slightly different story: “The Department confirms that the scope of the filter will be confined to websites carrying images of children being sexually abused but there may be circumstances when a website that contains text files might be blocked. For example, an instructional manual for child abuse or a diary relating to the abuse of an actual child might be blocked.” No doubt textual accounts of abuse are just as objectionable as photographic ones, but it’s not a far cry from there to blocking fictionalised accounts, illustrations and so forth. And as Britain has demonstrated, there can be no accounting for moral panic or the whims of future governments. Such schemes therefore pose a serious threat to civil liberties and freedom of speech – even when administered by democratic governments. In New Zealand the grunt-work of maintaining the blacklist – already some 7000 entries - has been delegated to Internal Affairs’ censorship compliance unit. At first this makes sense - after all, they’re the ones investigating child pornography anyway. But after two years of development there seems to have been little thought given to ensuring that only child pornography is targeted. Manch announced in July that the department would post a code of practice

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and the user would be warned. The service would be offered free of charge to internet service providers, but there would be limits to what it could do: the software would not filter email, instant messaging, peer-to-peer file sharing or encrypted web traffic. Even as the scheme was announced in July, Internal Affairs’ deputy secretary Keith Manch warned that it was “not a silver bullet that [would] prevent everyone from accessing any sites that might contain images of child sexual abuse”. But far from being a fix-all, Beagle is doubtful whether the scheme will fix anything. Few, he says, are so gormless as to Google “sexy naked children”, and the vast majority of child pornography is in fact transmitted socially – by email, peer-to-peer and all the rest of it. Even those audacious enough to seek out paedophilic paysites can simply re-route their requests via a proxy server. All in all, he says, the filtering is “trivially easy” to bypass. “How do you think all those people in Iran are getting their information out past a much more comprehensive filtering system? They’re using commonly available tools like Tor, MyEnTunnel, copssh, and others to work around them. “Filtering might stop casual users, but it isn’t going to stop anyone who’s motivated and can read a how-to article.” So maybe it doesn’t work perfectly, but it’s better than nothing, right?

on the Internal Affairs website for public inspection, but a month later, no such code is to be seen. Both Manch and Internal Affairs Minister Nathan Guy say they will also appoint an “independent reference group”, likely including Chief Censor Bill Hastings. But the pall of secrecy that surrounds the scheme stands in stark contrast to the free and open debate that has taken place in the political and public discourse elsewhere.

‘No plans’ The issue of internet filtering and its impact on civil liberties has been hotly debated in the Australian senate, where the Labor government is trying to drum up support for a bill that will impose mandatory filtering for the country’s internet service providers. But whether or not one objects to such legislation, its discussion in the political arena enshrines the most important civil liberty of all – the right to have one’s objections heard. Yet in New Zealand the approach has been far less scrupulous. No matter how compelling the case may be for imposing internet filtering in New Zealand, the fact remains that as yet there is no legal framework for doing so. Websites aren’t covered under the Films,Videos, and Publications Classification Act, largely because personally vetting the entire internet would be an impossible task, and the political fallout in Australia has likely curtailed any attempt at legislation here. But while there are no laws requiring internet filtering, both Labour and National governments have operated on the basis that there are no laws against it either. Both parties have allowed the department to court ISPs into adopting a state-run filtering scheme while fudging the issue in public. Two days before Labour lost the 2008 election, IT minister David Cunliffe assured reporters the government had no plans to implement compulsory filtering of internet connections. Perhaps he was referring to Labour’s polling rather than policy, but at the time Internal Affairs was already trialling the filtering software with Ihug, Watchdog, Maxnet and TelstraClear. More recently, Cunliffe’s successor Steven Joyce told the National Business Review in March that the government had been following the filtering debate in Australia, but had “no plans to introduce something similar here”. “”The technology for internet filtering causes delays for all internet users. And unfortunately those who are determined to get around any filter will find a way to do so. Our view is that educating kids and parents about being safe on the internet is the best way of tackling the problem.” But an inspection of Internal Affairs’ budget for the 2009/10 financial year shows an extra $617,000 had already been allocated to “censorship enforcement activities”, including $150,000 to purchase Netclean Whitebox. Joyce’s office has since declined requests for comment. To date the Department of Internal Affairs has convinced Vodafone,TelstraClear and Maxnet to adopt the scheme ‘voluntarily’ - although individual users can only opt out by taking their business elsewhere. Orcon, Slingshot and Natcom have all rejected it, but Telecom has yet to announce a decision – a make-or-break for the scheme, given that it represents nearly 60 per cent of the market. Should Telecom choose to adopt, no less than 93 per-cent of the country’s internet users would be enlisted: not compulsory filtering per se, but something that looks a hell of a lot like it. The next few months will be critical for the future of New Zealand’s digital and political landscape, with the code of practice, appointment of overseers and final yay-or-nay of Telecom still to come. Perhaps the project will make a huge difference in the fight against child sex abuse; perhaps not. But if censorship is predicated on good faith and transparent actions, then the case for filtering in New Zealand is a poor one indeed.

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In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 19

27/08/2009 5:08:25 p.m.

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USU EXECUTIV VOTING FOR NEXT YEARS’ USU EXECUTIVE IS AROUND THE CORNER AND SO IT’S TIME TO GET TO KNOW THE NOMINEES. THEY ARE LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER WITH THE POSITIONS THEY ARE RUNNING FOR. SOME POSITIONS, SUCH AS PRESIDENT ONLY HAVE ONE CONTENDER. IN THIS CASE, IF YOU ARE UNHAPPY WITH THE CHOICE OF NOMINEE,YOU CAN VOTE NO CONFIDENCE INSTEAD. IF NO CONFIDENCE WINS OVER THE NOMINEE THEN ANOTHER ELECTION MUST BE HELD TO FILL THE POSITION.

ELEANOR AH CHEE

GENERAL EXECUTIVE MEMBER WAITAKERE REP My name is Eleanor Ah Chee. I am a mature student of Cook Island/English descent. I have a large family whom support me throughout my studies. I am a full time student in my second year of the Social Practice degree with an interest in Community Development. I have been asked by a few people where my surname Ah Chee comes from, it is my married name, my husband being Maori, Chinese, Samoan. My interests outside of studies are sports (especially basketball), aromatherapy, reading novels, spending time with my husband and family. I have been a basketball player for many years representing Waitakere and Auckland before retiring from the game and being involved with coaching, managing and sports massage. My experience with committees has been at regional and local level of governance of sports, church and family. I have strong beliefs and values in justice/social justice, fairness and teamwork.

ROSE DAMON

GENERAL EXECUTIVE MEMBER G’day Unitec, My name is Rose and I’m running for general exec. I’m halfway through a Bach of Performing and Screen Arts (Directing), I live at the student Village, and have done for a year and a half - in both 310 and 1510, so I don’t take sides! I also work at Carrington’s – except when the USU parties are on, when you can find my crazy costumes and dorky moves on

the dance floor. My point is that because I live, study, work, and socialise at Unitec, I not only care how it’s run, I really really know how much difference a good or bad uni experience can make in people’s lives. I want to work towards making Unitec a stronger intellectual, artistic, business and social community, instead of simply a place that we visit as a stepping stone to a job.These years might be the best of our lives, and we only have one chance to make them extraordinary. I’m friendly and approachable, ambitious, focused, and hard-working, yet easy-going. If you want someone on the exec who wants to know your ideas and has a few of her own, then please vote for me!

MELANIE DISSE

POSTGRADUATE REP INTERNATIONAL REP Hi everyone, My name is Melanie Disse, most people also know me as Nenni, and I am running for the position of the USU Postgraduate Representative and International Representative next year. I am from Germany and this is the second semester of my Master of International Communication at Unitec. Since I am an international Mastersstudent, I know what’s on your minds, what bothers you and I will do my best to represent your interests, ideas, concerns and wishes the best way possible. So go voting and vote for me and make sure your voice will be heard! Cheers!

LAWRENCE GOUDIE

GENERAL EXECUTIVE MEMBER VICE PRESIDENT Hi all, my names Lawrence, and I am running for Vice President and General Executive. In a nut shell, I’m after a bit of change after being here for nearly two years and seeing nothing but my wasted fees achieving nothing for me personally apart from a decrease in personal wealth. Apart from helping the general student body there are three things I would like to see change here at Unitec. They are, • Better lectures resulting from better assessment of lecturers, • Better food services in the Hub, and more selection, • More and better quality events hosted by the usu, including better drink deals for students. I’m not going to beg for your vote so if you want some change for the better and a bit more bang for your student fees then vote me in. Chur.

PETE HODKINSON

PRESIDENT Kiaora Unitec! My name is Pete Hodkinson. I am aware that I am the only person running for the Presidency of the Unitec Student’s Association, but it is hugely important to me that you feel confident in electing me into the role, rather than just see me as a winner by default. I believe I am deserving of your vote because of my strong ability to communicate with people, my self confidence, and my previous experience within the student executive here at Unitec.

usu

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27/08/2009 5:08:29 p.m.

As a general executive member of 2009 I actively participated in meetings of the Exec, I sat on the Faculty of Social and Health Sciences Academic Committee and was a member of the committee which dealt with one of Unitec’s longest and most trying appeals to date earlier this year. I have spent a large amount of time and effort over recent months familiarising myself with the duties and responsibilities of the USU president, the executive and the Students association as a whole as well as where we fit into Unitec and how we can actively pursue positive change in 2010.I promise that if elected I will consistently endeavour to engage students across the board for your opinions, criticisms and support. I promise to work diligently to ensure Unitec provides you all with a consistent, world class education. I will commit myself to supporting and monitoring all aspects of student life from childcare services, to career pathfinding , to student funding right through to the parties we all know and love! Many of you out there already know me, but for those who don’t, I’m always keen for a chat and to meet new people. So keep an eye out and don’t hesitate to come and say hi!

ASAWI ISHMAEL

GENERAL EXECUTIVE MEMBER WAITAKERE REP No blurb submitted

KARAN JATAKIA VICE PRESIDENT TREASURER INTERNATIONAL REP No blurb submitted

JENINE KENDALE

GENERAL EXECUTIVE MEMBER Hi my name is Jenine Kendale. I’m a first year Bachelor of Business student, majoring in accounting and Finance. I am originally from South Africa but have lived in New Zealand for nine years now. I think I would make a good general exec as I like to keep up with what is happening at Unitec and I always listen and try to help my fellow students. I was a class rep for business statics last semester and helped arrange an over haul of that paper to improve it for future students. I am also currently a student representative on the DOMM committee. I joined the USU earlier

this year and was nominated student rep for all first year class reps in the bbus programme. As you can see I am actively trying to improve our student experience and promise to always listen and take on board any suggestions you might make. Besides my commitment to my studies and fellow students I am also a mum of two so I can relate to most. Vote for to be your next USU General Exec.

THARINDU KUMARA

VICE PRESIDENT TREASURER GENERAL EXECUTIVE MEMBER INTERNATIONAL REP Hi Everybody, I’m Tharindu Kumara. I’m the USU Treasurer at the moment. I’m considering running for 4 positions. They are as follows. 1. Vice President 2. Treasurer 3. General Executive 4. International representative. My main focus is to be the vice president. As a vice president I feel I can do a great job for students. I promise all the students to protect the very beautiful green environment of Unitec. Moreover, I will work hard to develop the recycling system at both Mt Albert and Waitakere campuses. I understand there are many issues among students regarding their studies and other facilities at unitec. For example, there is a problem with parking at Unitec, the main reason for this is the increase in the number of students in this year. However, it is not too hard to find a solution to resolve this problem. Furthermore, I would like to discuss with other USU executives regarding more entertaining programmes for both domestic and international students. I think for international students outdoor activities such as tours, tournaments, parties... etc are the best opportunities to be more familiar with other students and they would get a knowledge about the lifestyle and culture of New Zealand.

TOGIA LANEFALE

feature

IVE NOMINEES MAORI REP VICE PRESIDENT WAITAKERE REP GENERAL EXECUTIVE MEMBER Tena koutou katoa, My name is Togia Lanefale Maori and Niuean decent. I’m Auckland born attended local schools and played rugby league for Richmond and Ponsonby. In my 42 years I’ve worked as a cleaner, kitchen hand, driver labourer, freezing works slaughterman for 15 years and currently work with young offenders at Youth Justice North in Manurewa. I’m a single parent of a 15 year boy whom I raised since his mum died from asthma before he turned two. I’ve been coaching junior sports in Avondale for six years during summer and manage a junior rugby league team in the winter. I’m a second year Bachelor of Social Practice student and current USU general executive member. I have been a student since 1998 studying at WINTEC, AUT, MIT,Te Wananga o Aotearoa and Unitec. As a professional student I know the many challenges students face, same stories different institute. This year I have been able to support Waitakere and Mt Albert students in addressing issues that have come about due to the increase in student numbers and if I’m able to return to the USU I will continue to do so.

NAVID MOVAHEDI ( ARIO )

GENERAL EXECUTIVE MEMBER Study= Fun* <PartieZ> ^2+ (Better services)*(what you want to learn and how you want to learn)=[ your voice should be hear by those who take you $ and they think they are doing their best {we all know they can do it better}] What Unitec think is (Morning students) ARE = 2 (Afternoon students & Evening students) . and charge all the student s same , I pay same as what an evening students pay but do they get the same services that morning students get ???? We all need food and coffee and also computer labs service at all the time ( morning . afternoon and evening DNT we?? And also better internet service You know what,,,,, just vote for me and let me handle it , I promise I do my best for your more satisfaction. My name is Navid MOVAHEDI and some people know me as Ario I have been in Unitec for nearly 5 years, so I know what we( students) want and how we want it ………..»» I always get what I want. I = (me) + (you)

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27/08/2009 5:08:33 p.m.

feature CRAIG TUNNICLIFFE

GENERAL EXECUTIVE MEMBER WAITAKERE REP My name is Craig Tunnicliffe and I am running for the positions of Student Representative Waitakere and General Executive Member. I am currently studying towards a Bachelor of Social Practice at our wonderful Waitakere campus. I think our campus, and the students that study here, are unique. It’s a great place! But it could always be better! Students have already told me that they are having issues with accessing computers when they need them, and that they are still awaiting a crèche on campus. As your rep I will give voice to your concerns and together we can make Waitakere the best campus ever!

HAMISH WALKER

TREASURER I first came to Unitec last year with the only care in the world about getting out of bed in time for class, I have to come to truly enjoy what Unitec has to offer, (and want to put something back into it) hence standing for Treasurer for the USU My relevant past experience includes: Fisherman on the South Island’s West Coast, Goldminer in Western Australia over the Uni break, 2 years working for the NZ Police, 3 years selling real estate all over NZ & owning investment property personally since the age of 20. I have good negotiation skills which I believe is a vital aspect for the treasurer’s role on the USU negotiating the most advantageous position l for students!! I currently study Property Development & Accounting which is also relevant to the treasurer’s role. Please vote for me as treasurer, I would appreciate the opportunity to contribute and gain new skills, make new friends and improve on the years & years of hard work that the USU has been doing to improve the Unitec student experience. Vote WALKER for Treasurer!

MELISSA WEBSTER GENERAL EXECUTIVE MEMBER WAITAKERE REP Kia Ora My name is Mel Webster I am a part Maori part European foundations studies student running for Waitakere rep. Im studying a pathway to social work. Having been out of school for 5 years I know how hard it is to go back to student life. I am passionate about making your student life as fun and stress free as possible. I would love to be a voice for Unitec students and help get your voice heard where it counts. My campaign is students voicing student opinions because I want to hear what you have to say.

XUE YANG (HAILEY)

GENERAL EXECUTIVE MEMBER Hi, everyone. My name is Xue Yang, just call me Hailey. I’m campaigning to be a General Executive member. Firstly, I’d like to share some of my hobbies with you. I love singing. No matter what type of music it is. I learned piano for four years. I’m also keen on art & design which I studied for eight years. Life at Unitec is exciting; USU is an influential organization where students become involved in campus life. I want to be an executive member, because I want to help students to experience a good social life at Unitec as well as an academic life. I’m a person with warm heart and I want to share my happiness and make friends with you! If I were elected as a General Executive member, I would do my best to help you. I would relay information from USU and would inform you to the best of my ability. If I could design the posters of USU, I would give you a surprise. I would take my responsibility and I would not disappoint you!!! What are you waiting for? Don’t hesitate anymore! Just Vote for me!

THEJAKA WIJEWEERA

GENERAL EXECUTIVE MEMBER Do you want a young, friendly guy who will talk your problems in the executive body? Then vote for Thejaka Wijeweera at the USU elections for General Executive Member. Kia ora. I am Thejaka Samindra Wijeweera and I will be running for USU General Executive member position for 2010. I am 19 year old international student from Sri Lanka and have been studying at Unitec since 2008 and currently I am doing my Bachelor in Business Accountancy. New Zealand is a great place for studies and Unitec was just the icing on the cake for me, but at the same time I am a guy who has experienced many difficulties when I first arrived to New Zealand as a student such as finding a job, paying fees and the main reason I have decided to run for this position is to create more facilities for the benefit of the students, talk the real problems what students are facing, and find solutions for them. Also I am hoping to discuss more about the problems what international students are facing and try the executive to hear their voice as they have to pay a large amount of tuition fees and therefore they

VOTING OPENS MONDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER. CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR THE LINK TO VOTE OR VISIT WWW.USU.CO.NZ TO FIND THE LINK. VOTING CLOSES TUESDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER AT 4PM.

usu

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27/08/2009 5:08:40 p.m.

column

Whakarongo Mai WITH THE JOSEPH News-Bot WITH HARPER NEWS ROUND UP

27 STATUS UPDATES I find the internet amusing at times, mainly when I’m watching Jake and Amir. But also sometimes when I read status updates on Facebook. Here are twenty-seven of them.

ROFLOL

Oh my there has been a lot of political going ons my dirty little cherubs. That whole kafuffle over Maori seats on the Auckland Supercity was finally resolved when National waggled its finger in a definite NO to the idea.This made yellow blazer lover ACT’s Rodney Hide as gleeful as ever, he got to keep his job-he had promised to quit if he didn’t get his own way over the issue. The decision enraged the Maori Party who said they will fight!fight!fight! it, co-leader Pita Sharples has called for a conscience vote over separate Maori seats on the Auckland Supercity. Speaking of rage, some naughty school boys got into a bit of fisty-cuffs after their rugby game and have been dealt their punishment, some more so than others. It was a fight between Kelston Boys High first XV players and their Auckland Grammar opponents. The Grammar boys got six weeks suspension at the most compared to the 10 to 16 month suspensions the Kelston rugby-heads got. I saw the brawl with my own little robot eyes and to me it looked like they were just throwing themselves on each other creating a body pile. I thought it was funny, but I did feel bad for the unfortunate jock at the bottom of the pile. I know where I’m going next time I want to sell some heroin, Mexico! A new Mexican law has decriminalised the possession of small amounts of heroin, marijuana, cocaine and other party time drugs! Instead of getting in trouble with the po-po, people caught with the good stuff will be encouraged to go to drug counselling! So junkies, you know what to do! Some hilarious Australian played a trick on an unsuspecting man who was shopping in a Cairns shopping centre, the poor man got glued to a public toilet seat after using a cubicle in a male bathroom, ambulance workers and police were called to free the man, who was taken to hospital with the toilet seat still attached. That is something we should read about in Girlfriend’s How Embarrassment! section! OMG I am after the blood of the doctor who has something to do with MJ’s death. The Los Angeles County coroner ruled Michael Jackson’s death a homicide, which makes it likely criminal charges will be filed against the doctor who was with him when he died. As was said from early on, Jackson was given a lethal amount of drugs hours before he died. The doc better start beefing up his security, coz I’m bringing my mob of metallic friends his way. The NO vote on the whole smacking debacle won with about 88 percent of voters wanting the right to be able to hit their kids given back. Voters were asked, in a non-binding citizens-initiated referendum ”Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?”. However, the police and John Key have said the law is working good, so doesn’t look like you noers are going to get your way anytime soon. I wonder how many no voters celebrated with a good spanking in the bedroom the night the results came out? LOLZ. Ok time I’m off to Mexico! See you next issue.

1: i hate the police now after what they did to me last night. fuckin dick heads. 2: Autism Sundays. 3: tapanui :O 4: Plunket are stupid! They encourage you to starve your child! If she’s hungry of course I’m going to feed her! She was ready for solids early.. Awww I bet it went fast ay!! 5: Thanks heaps, you have a great one too! 6: having an awesome weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-) :-) 7: voted ”Yes” in ”The Smacking Poll.” What’s your opinion? 8: took the quiz ”How well do you know Nicola Mauchline?” and got the result: 6/11! 9: hello darling my weekend has been great how has yours been? yes i do have your nail polish i am looking after it for you :). gess were i as lol at jess’s i came down last night 4 amelias 21st so were getting on it cant wate to c you girlys soon 10: mmmm gluten free peanut butter cookies. you are good to me. but i wish you didn’t get so stuck to the dish. 11: fave new drink = berocca with iceeeee. 12: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcC5Ztwmir4 13: found an asian man in our backyard thismorning....?????????? 14: Elizabeth took the What random object are you? quiz and got the result: You are a spatula!. 15: The problem is not in the entrance requirements. We need to improve our education system to provide equal opportunity and grades to Maori people. 16: Fuck, Simmon is my cousin. I’ve made a huge mistake. 17: Thinks Rosss Kemp is the fuking man!!!! 18: fukk yeh carbs! 19: ”Excuse me while i light my spliff ohh jah i’ve got to take a lift from reality i just cant driift thats why I stay on this rift.” 20: Is slightly puzzled...Is Mike King funny? Was he ever funny? 21: Wanganui: Welcome Home. 22: hey yo, whats happening? tuve que escribir essay antes de ayer. pero no lo he hecho. ahhhhh. tell me your news hermano. 23: ”thats how bush fires are started mate. you wouldnt care about that though eh?” 24: More sausages than buns 25: FAIL 26: Yousif just got a new high score in Booger Shooter! 27: Archie had an allergic reaction to his vaccination today, got him home and his eyes and mouth started to go all red and swollen! Had to take him back to the vet for more jabs. Poor little guy had a traumatic day and is now wrapped up asleep in a blanket next to me.

usu

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27/08/2009 5:08:45 p.m.

USU TAG TOURNAMENT

FRIDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER UNITEC RUGBY FIELDS - 10AM 8 a side - Maximum 12 people per team Get together, choose a team name and register at USU Reception (bldg 180). Registration closes 2nd September $30 entry fee is payable at the time of registration Playing official kiwi tag rules MORE DETAILS AVAILABLE FROM USU RECEPTION OR EMAIL USUSPORT@UNITEC.AC.NZ usu

WWW.USU.CO.NZ

CALLING ALL GAMERS.... THE USU GAMING CLUB PRESENTS:

OPEN GAMING DAY FREE GAMING IS BACK IN THE HUB!

THURS 17 SEPT 12 -5PM UNI LOUNGE IN THE HUB (BLDG 180)

XBOX360 NINTENDO WII

PRIZES TO BE WON FOR THE BEST GAMERS!

ITE

usu

STU

FREE FOR UNITEC STUDENTS! AT ’A SSOCIATION

In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 24

WWW.USU.CO.NZ

27/08/2009 5:08:49 p.m.

GANDER AT SPORT

It would be preferable to just bask in the glow of another world-beating performance from Valerie Vili before introducing the inevitable query: when on earth is this wonderful New Zealander going to be compensated adequately for her feats? The more this towering athlete conquers the global peaks, the more it highlights the bizarre situation she finds herself in. She is that rare bird indeed - a New Zealand world champion in a truly global sport and surely she is now worth her weight in gold. If our top All Blacks are able to command salaries approaching $1 million annually and our leading sailors are also showered in cash as they sell themselves to the highest bidders around the globe, surely it’s time something was done to feather the nest of this Kiwi great. That the young woman from South Auckland is near unbeatable in her chosen sport must lend credence to the fact it’s time she reaped what she’s been sewing for the last few years in beating all-comers in the women’s shot put. A repeat world champion, indeed a rarity for a Kiwi, must surely place her even with, or maybe even slightly ahead of Peter Snell as New Zealand’s greatest ever athlete. Maybe another Olympic Gold in London in 2012 will cement that spot for her. But the question remains, when will the powers that be in NZ pay her what she’s worth? A $60,000 grant from SPARC is pretty much it for our Val. Unfortunately for Vili, she was born in and chose to represent New Zealand. Had she been born in Europe or the United States, Valerie would now be sitting comfortably, courtesy of endorsements, fancy cars, top of the range watches etc, etc and paraded around the country like she had conquered the whole world. Come on New Zealand; let’s look after our champions a bit better. On that note, is sprinter Usain Bolt an absolute freak or what? How anyone can take 0.11 off their own world record in a 100 metre race is unbelievable. And you know what makes it even freakier, is that Bolt seems to just be jogging the last 20 metres or so, how fast would he go if he actually pushed himself for the whole 100 metres? After breaking the mark at Berlin’s World Championships, he stated that there’s every chance he could take 0.18 off his latest time to go under 9.40 seconds. When American Jim Hines first broke the 10 second barrier in 1968, it took another 19 years before anyone took 0.1 off the record and that was by disgraced Canadian Ben Johnson, yet for Bolt it’s taken just 12 short months to take the same amount of time off his own mark from 9.69 at last years Olympics to 9.58 at Augusts World Champs, truly amazing. And he comes from Jamaica man! I’m the Goose and You’re Not.

Dear

BARBIE

Hey Barbie. I’ve been seeing this chick for a few weeks now, but we haven’t had sex yet. I’m afraid she will leave me if I do, because well, I’m hung like a ken doll. Advice?

xox

OUR VAL AND USAIN, A BOLT FROM JAMAICA

dear barbie

The Goose’s

Hmm. Tricky one buddy, I know your predicament very well, as you may know, Ken and I have been dating on and off for 50 years. The off is because of the same problem you have no genitals. My only advice is; a woman has needs so if you love her, you’ll let her go when she needs to, if she loves you she’ll come back as she needs to. Xx Barbie

Hi Barbie, I’ve known this chick, for some time…couple of friendly dates, I really like her and want someone like her. But she wants things friendly. Sadly not a poem type fella. Ideas pliz. Keen + hoping

Dear Keen. Clearly you are not a wordsmith type guy, as this is a hard question to decipher. I actually had to get Ken’s advice on this, as his written English is also terrible. He says you mean you have been hanging out with a lady friend who has all the characteristics of someone you could see yourself settling down with, but she does not appear to feel the same.You also want to write a poem, but cannot for whatever reasons. So, my advice is, if you want her and she doesn’t feel the same then it’s time to change. Start liking poetry; in the Sex and the City movie, when Mr Big is trying to get Carrie back, he emails her a classical love poem everyday.You can start doing that for starters, also get her roses, boys don’t do that enough. Be so romantic that she can’t resist and just want “things friendly” make it clear that is not an option. Also, buy her some diamonds and take her out to dinner every night. If she’s not yours after all this effort and money spent, you can date me instead. I’m getting a little bored of Ken.

Dear Barbie. I’ve been with my boyf for about five years now, we were high school sweethearts.The problem is, I’m kind of getting sick of him. Like really sick of him.The other day I dreamt about sleeping with my lecturer. I don’t even like the lecturer, he’s kind of bald and wears too much tweed, but I think it means I need a change? What do you think? Sick of my bo. Well, “sick of my bo” it looks like you just answered your own question. Five years is far too long to be with someone in my opinion. I usually cut my relationships short at two years; there are far too many babes in the sea to put such a limit on yourself. Also, guys need to be liberated too so I think it is time to split and get back into the dating world, unless of course, he is rich and super good looking, then maybe you could go for an open arrangement? Maybe your first fling post break-up should be the lecturer, just to prove your dream wrong/increase your marks.

usu

In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 25

27/08/2009 5:08:50 p.m.

student art

STUDENT DESIGN Yoshinkai Aikido 09 Brief: Design an identity for the Martial Art - Aikido Client: New Zealand Yoshinkai Aikido Club Production: Letterheads, envelope, business cards, brochures, posters and publication.

Design 1.

QQ QVCMJDBUJPO ZPTIJOLBJ BJLJEP

Yoshinkai Aikido 09

Brief: Design an identity for the Martial Art - Aikido Client: New Zealand Yoshinkai Aikido Club Production: Letterheads, envelope, business cards, brochures, posters and publication.

Yoshinkai Aikido 09

Brief: Design an identity for the Martial Art - Aikido Client: New Zealand Yoshinkai Aikido Club Production: Letterheads, envelope, business cards, Yoshinkai Aikido 09 brochures, posters and publication.

Brief: Design an identity for the Martial Art - Aikido Client: New Zealand Yoshinkai Aikido Club Production: Letterheads, envelope, business cards,

QQ QVCMJDBUJPO ZPTIJOLBJ BJLJEP

brochures, posters and publication.

QQ QVCMJDBUJPO ZPTIJOLBJ BJLJEP

New Zealand Yoshinkai

Aikido is a passive japanese martial art. It’s form is based on the idealogy of harmony.

733 New North Road Mount Albert Auckland www.yoshinkaiaikido.co.nz

New Zealand Yoshinkai

Aikido is a passive japanese martial art. It’s form is based on the idealogy of harmony.

For more infomation please pick up a brochure from our club or visit our new website.

733 New North Road Mount Albert Auckland www.yoshinkaiaikido.co.nz

Aikido Club

Aikido is a passive japanese martial art. It’s form is based on the idealogy of harmony.

For more infomation please pick up a brochure from our club or visit our new website.

733 New North Road Mount Albert Auckland www.yoshinkaiaikido.co.nz

Aikido Club

Aikido is a passive japanese martial art. It’s form is based on the idealogy of harmony.

For more infomation please pick up a brochure from our club or visit our new website.

733 New North Road Mount Albert Auckland www.yoshinkaiaikido.co.nz

Aikido Club

Aikido is a passive japanese martial art. It’s form is based on the idealogy of harmony.

For more infomation please pick up a brochure from our club or visit our new website.

733 New North Road Mount Albert Auckland www.yoshinkaiaikido.co.nz

New Zealand Yoshinkai

For more infomation please pick up a brochure from our club or visit our new website.

Aikido Club

Aikido Club New Zealand Yoshinkai

Aikido Club

New Zealand Yoshinkai

1. ALLISON CRENE Allison is a third year student in the Bachelor of Design, photography and media arts pathway. Her latest series was shot at the Auckland domain, the model is wearing a dress that Allison hand-made using real flowers.

Aikido Club New Zealand Yoshinkai

Aikido is a passive japanese martial art. It’s form is based on the idealogy of harmony.

For more infomation please pick up a brochure from our club or visit our new website.

Aikido is a passive japanese martial art. It’s form is based on the idealogy of harmony.

733 New North Road Mount Albert Auckland www.yoshinkaiaikido.co.nz

New Zealand Yoshinkai

Aikido Club

Aikido is a passive japanese martial art. It’s form is based on the idealogy of harmony.

For more infomation please pick up a brochure from our club or visit our new website.

733 New North Road Mount Albert Auckland www.yoshinkaiaikido.co.nz

Aikido Club

Aikido is a passive japanese martial art. It’s form is based on the idealogy of harmony.

For more infomation please pick up a brochure from our club or visit our new website.

733 New North Road Mount Albert Auckland www.yoshinkaiaikido.co.nz

New Zealand Yoshinkai

For more infomation please pick up a brochure from our club or visit our new website.

Aikido Club

733 New North Road Mount Albert Auckland www.yoshinkaiaikido.co.nz

Aikido is a passive japanese martial art. It’s form is based on the idealogy of harmony.

For more infomation please pick up a brochure from our club or visit our new website.

Aikido Club New Zealand Yoshinkai

733 New North Road Mount Albert Auckland www.yoshinkaiaikido.co.nz

Aikido is a passive japanese martial art. It’s form is based on the idealogy of harmony.

Aikido Club New Zealand Yoshinkai

2-5 STUDENT OBJECT AND JEWELLERY AUCTION This auction was put on by the fourth year bacelor of design students to raise funds for the end of year Grad Show. Above is some work that was part of the auction, ’Tiki’ by Aroha Lewin (3) and ’Cassette Tape Shelf ’ by Tim Webber (4)

For more infomation please pick up a brochure from our club or visit our new website.

Aikido is a passive japanese martial art. It’s form is based on the idealogy of harmony.

For more infomation please pick up a brochure from our club or visit our new website.

733 New North Road Mount Albert Auckland www.yoshinkaiaikido.co.nz

8. 9.

6-9 RAY KOH Ray is in his fourth year of the Bachelor of Design majoring in visual communication. He is influenced by minimal and clean design, especially the Swiss designers. The above project is the identity design for an Auckland Community Aikido martial arts club. The theme was dynamism, attemping to capture the sense of fluid movement through the use of an Aikido technique.

DO YOU WANT TO SEE YOUR ART IN IN UNISON? DO YOU HAVE AN EXHIBITION COMING UP THAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT?

Email usugraphics@unitec.ac.nz, or call 815 4321 ex. 7928 and let us know about it.

usu

In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 26

27/08/2009 5:08:57 p.m.

E R

USU PRESENTS

AT KE S! A U T P AI M W CA

S T ES

JEREMY SPECIAL GU FRIDAY 11 SEPTEMBER - 7PM

SIMON

MCKINNEY

ELWOOD

BASEMENT LECTURE THEATRE BLDG 510 - UNITEC WAITAKERE CAMPUS

TICKETS ONLY $5 DE

’ A SS

ITE

usu OCIATION

STU N

FROM STUDENT SERVICES (BLDG 500) - WHARE MANAAKI OR $10 DOOR SALES AT

In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 27

WWW.USU.CO.NZ

R18 27/08/2009 5:08:59 p.m.

reviews

DISTRICT 9

GOD HELP THE GIRL

FILM

MUSIC

Director: Neill Blomkamp

Stuart Murdoch

Views

Put aside your expectations and your decades of sci-fi experience as District 9 breaks with the conventional model and avoids all the Hollywood clichés. Hard hitting realism is usually not a term paired with alien movies, but the doco-style filming and characters of the movie gives this dystopian story an effect that can only be paired with Orwell’s 1984 or Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. This masterpiece is the debut work of director Neill Blomkamp. The South African director caught the eye of Peter Jackson through his Alive in Joburg short movie; a gem made with virtually no budget and some excellent editing. Although there are some differences between the short film and the feature movie, the story remains essentially the same. The story starts with an alien craft hovering over Johannesburg, which creates an expectation of an underlying evil alien plot. However, we soon learn the twist that makes the story disturbingly real; the only evil lies in the selfishness of the humans around the aliens, and the weapons manufacturer HMU, who after 26 years of segregating the aliens into poor living conditions, are given the rights to find a new place for the aliens and “take care of them”. We join our anti-hero, Wikus van der Merwe (played by Sharlto Copley), as he gets promoted by his father in law, as head of Alien Affairs. Wikus greets us with a bureaucrats smile and banter, as he leads the team of HMU staff/soldiers, to evict the aliens into even worse living conditions. The aliens, called prawns for their scaly look, with a strange affection for cat food, are living in a slum-like environment controlled by superstitious Nigerian gangsters. Here we meet the most humane character in the story, Prawn Christopher Johnson, and his child, who becomes the core of the story. Blokamp takes a ‘dogma’ style approach to the dialogue; like Lars Von Trier the dialogue was not pre-written, allowing the actors to improvise with the dialogue and acting. This is a must see movie that balances brutal and gory action with stark realism avoiding all expected clichés.

God Help the Girl is the name of the latest musical project of Scotland’s patron saint of bedroom-pop adventures, Stuart Murdoch (Belle & Sebastian). The project began according to Murdoch, as a bunch of songs he had written that didn’t quite gel with where Belle & Sebastian were at. The project has since evolved into a full fledged album, which is almost epic in its baroque-pop approach, and is currently being worked into a musical film. Pretty much Grease on bicycles I imagine. The songs on God Help the Girl feel like the obvious next step for Murdoch. Belle & Sebastian fans will probably see it as the end of the path the band has been travelling along production wise.There is little trace of the band’s bedroom/D.I.Y/humble beginnings here; but if we’re being honest, haven’t those early trademarks, which made the band so attractive to begin with, been slowly disappearing with every new release? Yes they have. The only thing that was really left of the Belle & Sebastian you fell in love with, on their last studio record was the choir boy vocal. And now that’s gone as well. Replaced on God Help the Girl with some very breathy, polite, self-assured (and at times uncomfortably jazzy) female diva vocals. Personally, I don’t care for it, but that has more to do with my passion for Stuart Murdoch’s squeak than anything else. The girl (Catherine Ireton) sings well and makes the songs her own. The production on this album is theatrical to say the least. Swells and horns and all. It all sounds a lot like sugar. Tender ballads suited for Broadway. I didn’t hate this album. But I didn’t love it either. It was proficient, nay, exemplary. But in the end, it was an example of cheese. Reviewed by Joseph Harper

Reviewed by Christian Jensen

THANKS TO:

for more info on movies showing now and coming soon visit www.skycitycinemas.co.nz

In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 28

27/08/2009 5:09:01 p.m.

reviews

APOLLO 13: CARROTS MISSION CONTROL Maker: Nature

THEATRE

Orange and phallic; what’s not to like? Seriously though; I decided to take on a snack with more apparent nutritional value for this issue’s review, and seeing as I take at least one of these long, crunchy, beauties with me to Unitec everyday, it felt like the obvious option. First things first; in terms of value, it’s hard to overstate just how rad carrots are. You can get a kilo of these babies for anywhere between .99cents and $1.99, and depending on what size carrots you like down your throat, that will get you up to ten carrots! Preparation is also a definite pro when it comes to carrots. Though some would tell you to shave off their skins, I find that leaving it on allows an extra dimension of texture and possibly flavour when eating the snack. All you really need to do with your carrot prep-wise is pop off the knobs at either end with a knife, and you’ll be away laughing. Taste and eating are both more subjective. Though I find the carrot to be really quite delicious, and a genuinely good eat; some friends of mine who were eating them with me weren’t so keen. “It’s kind of fun until it gets to the point where you can’t chew it any more. Then you just have this horrible flavourless pulp shit in your mouth which is quite difficult to swallow,” said my co-snacker, Sam Ellis. Another key point is the dipping situation. Some would go on record saying that the carrot is utterly dismal as a snack if it’s not covered in some kind of delicious dipping agent. E.g.: onion dip, aioli, hummus, sun-dried tomoato patte, peanut butter etc, but as a portable snack this can’t really work because carrying around a liquidish dip can be far more dangerous that carrying a straight carrot. All in all, I find that this con is overcome by the carrot’s pros, and all in all they are a positive experience/snack. Reviewed by Joseph Harper

Reviewed by Joseph Harper

Views

The last work I saw by the Hackman group was an excellently executed nostalgia trip, presented in the various church halls of our nation called Arohaotearoa; complete with lamingtons, sweater vests, and humorous tales of the Wahine sinking. The piece was a tour-de-force of Kiwiana kitsch that wrapped itself up so tightly in our nation’s collective idiosyncrasies that it was hard to imagine Hackman’s next venture would be something so far from home. Apollo 13 was about as far from home as possible. Set in the mission control room of Nasa during the infamous Apollo 13 launch and crisis; the play follows the astronauts and the team trying to bring them home. And therein lies the kick. The mission control team is made up audience members, each with his/her own personal console and job description. The play really shines when it seduces the audience into becoming an integral part of the show; we were made to feel crucial to its success. I think this feeling would have been more intense and consistent if the interactive portion of the audience had been smaller, but the fact that Apollo 13 manages to incite these magic moments of catharsis for the entirety of the 65 strong team of audience members is an out-of-this-world achievement. I was at first apprehensive about the concept of New Zealanders taking a shot at what is essentially an American institution. But I think the distance between the creators and the content was part of the fun and really allowed for some playful ribbing which might not have otherwise existed. Jason Whyte gives an exceptional performance as flight director Gene Kranz, and his charisma and intensity are massively impressive. If there is one shooting star in New Zealand’s thespian community, it is surely Kip Chapman (the plays director and cocreator). I look forward to seeing more and more of his work, and I pray that he maintains his universal ambition.

SNACK

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In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 29

27/08/2009 5:09:02 p.m.

band profile

BAND PROFILE: MOUNT PLEASANT

Profile 30

STUDENT PROFILE: KALESI TABETE

JONATHAN PHILLIPS HAS BEEN MAKING HIGHLY IDIOSYNCRATIC, EXPERIMENTAL POP MUSIC UNDER THE PSEUDONYM MOUNT PLEASANT FOR SEVERAL YEARS. HIS EXTRAORDINARILY PROLIFIC OUTPUT, FREE MASS DISTRIBUTION STYLE, AND COUPLING OF INTIMACY AND SAVAGE DETACHMENT LED HIM TO BECOME SOMETHING OF A DARLING OF NEW ZEALAND’S INDIE SCENE LAST YEAR. FORMERLY BASED OUT OF CHRISTCHURCH, JONATHAN HAS SINCE MOVED TO (HIS NATIVE) ENGLAND, WHERE HE CONTINUES TO MAKE MUSIC. JOSEPH HARPER TAKES A TECHNOLOGICAL APPROACH OF FACEBOOK CHATTING WITH HIM. PHILLIPS OCCASIONALLY EMPLOYES SARCASM, WE’LL LEAVE IT TO YOU TO DECIDE WHEN AND WHERE.

KALESI TABETE IS A SECOND YEAR UNITEC STUDENT WITH A BIG PASSION FOR NETBALL UMPIRING. SHE IS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN THE BACHELOR OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SPECIALISING IN OPERATIONS. KALESI HAS BEEN WORKING IN THE NETBALL FIELD FOR TEN YEARS, AND HAS ESTABLISHED HERSELF AS AN INTERNATIONAL UMPIRE, STARTING OUT AS AN UMPIRE COORDINATOR IN FIJI – HER HOME COUNTRY. SHE HAS BEEN THE PRESIDENT OF NETBALL ASSOCIATIONS AND AN OCEANIA REGIONAL AND LOCAL AWARD EXAMINER AND SUPERVISOR. IN 2007 SHE WAS RANKED NUMBER ONE UMPIRE THROUGH THE SOUTH PACIFIC GAMES. STACEY KNOTT CATCHES UP WITH HER.

Joseph Harper: Hi Jonathan. How’s it going? Jonathan Phillips: It’s going well Joseph, real well JH: What does that mean? JP: What? ”well”? I guess it implies it’s all sort of stable JH: No, ”real well.” Why so enthused? JP: Mostly hard drugs. Next question. I define the rules of this interview. JH: Okay. Do you still use the Mount Pleasant moniker? JP: In day to day conversation. In England, it’s sort of strange introducing my music to people because it seems like a sort of selfenclosed world or something, just giving them a song or something doesn’t really explain it, it seems more a process. JH: Are you playing gigs? JP: Hundreds. I feel too anxious to play gigs. The gigs made sense in Christchurch, I don’t know what they would achieve in England. It’s not going to get me in the name. JH: What are you doing then? JP: My daily routine? Every day I read, and write music. Luxuriant unemployment. I guess it’s better than sitting and watching the Jeremy Kyle show. JH: Sounds like a nice little life of leisure. Like Harold from Harold and Maude. Tell me; is there a Maude in your existence? JP: A considerably older woman I have a questionable relationship with? JH: There’s nothing questionable about love+sex. JH: You recently released an album which is probably your best. Possibly your most accessible, too? JP: I don’t think it is necessarily any better than the others. My money is on Horseshoe Lake. Good guitar tone. JH: Would you like to live off your music one day? JP: If it meant not compromising myself. But I get the impression I am not going to be Coldplay or whatever. Like wealthy from the music. As you said, Rio joy is probably more accessible. But it is still no ”parachutes”. JH: If it’s okay with you, I’d like to end on that slightly morose note. JP: sure, thanks Joseph. JH: No. Thank you.

How did you get into netball umpiring? In 1997 two accredited umpire officials from Netball Australia came to Fiji to run an umpiring workshop. At the conclusion of this workshop participants were given an opportunity to sit a basic theory test and then undertake a practical assessment before being graded. Upon receiving my national/country award/badge there was no turning back my umpiring career just kept soaring to greater heights. I played netball at primary and secondary school level my positions were C (centre) and WA (wing attack). What do you enjoy the most about the umpiring? Meeting people from different cultural backgrounds. Can you tell us your favourite moment to do with the umpiring? Walking away from a game and knowing that I umpired well. What are your most recent umpiring achievements? This year I was appointed by IFNA (International Federation of Netball Associations) to be part of its Talent Identification Squad. There are four of us; three umpires from New Zealand and myself (representing the Oceania region). While in New Zealand I am a member of the Netball North Harbour Netball Association, umpiring regularly at premier (Thursday nights) and Saturday competitions. Why did you decide to study business at Unitec? I chose Unitec over other institutions because I liked what I had read about the school on the website and in the international prospectus. How has studying benefited you? Studying has broadened my knowledge in a lot of ways and has enabled me to apply principles in theory to real world situations What are your future plans? Upon graduation my objective is to work in the airline industry as an operations manager and secondly, to become the first Fijian to attain an International Umpiring Award (IUA)

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In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 30

27/08/2009 5:09:02 p.m.

recipes

RAV’S

STEPHANIE MCCOLL’S

LEARNED THROUGH BAKING With anything in life you can learn lessons – so why not when baking and eating wonderful treats?! You can think of baking as intensive therapy and personal growth, all of your friends and flatmates will love you for it! LIFE LESSON #10:TRAVEL TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD...IN THE KITCHEN! Want to see the world, or better yet taste it? Well try this halva recipe! Halva is a simple dessert made from wheat flour or semolina, butter, sugar, milk and water. It is popular in India and Nepal, as well as in the Middle East, with slight variations and additional flavourings added depending on the region. So if you feel the need to escape to a far away land or explore your global palate, then here’s a recipe to suit!

HALVA

Ingredients : •1 cup suji (semolina) •¾ cup sugar •1.5 cups whole milk •1.5 cups water • 3 tablespoon ghee (or butter) •1 teaspoon cardamom •2 tablespoon raisin • 2 tablespoon cashew (for garnish)

Directions: 1. Heat ghee (or butter) in a wok or pan 2. Add Cardamom and heat for a few seconds on medium heat 3. Add Semolina and heat for a few minutes with constant stirring on low-medium heat 4. Add sugar and half of both raisins, and cashews. Heat for a few more minutes on low-medium heat 5. Add water and milk. Mix well and heat until you get desired consistency. (Usually somewhat like watery dough or thick pudding) 6. Garnish with remaining raisins and cashew nuts. 7. Serve either hot (preferred) or cold. Variations: For a creamier recipe try using cream instead of milk and milk instead of water. For a vegan-friendly version use only water instead of milk and use vegan margarine or vegetable oil instead of ghee or butter.

FOR THE STRESSED STUDENT

Yum Yum

Life Lessons

Easy-Peasy Meals

The food odyssey journey continues across to Eastern Europe and one of its worldwide well known dishes, the Hungarian Goulash. This is a hearty meal, though some consider it a soup and others a stew. It is suitable for anytime of the year since all the ingredients are available throughout the year. However like any stew it is a comforting dish on a cold day and provides warmth as long as you have a good robust red wine with it. Best enjoyed with some crusted bread and a simple salad.This recipe takes time, so plan for a weekend rugby night on the telly with friends, and start at 4pm.

HUNGARIAN GOULASH

Ingredients : • 500 gms any tender part of the beef cut into 2x2 cm cubes shaken and coated with 2Tbs flour • 3 medium potatoes boiling kind, quartered • 2 medium onions, roughly diced • 3 cloves of garlic diced • 2 carrots, diced • 1 parsnip, diced • 1 celery diced along with leaves roughly chopped • 1 can (400 gms) Watties chopped tomatoes • 50 gms. butter • 2Tbs olive oil • 1 Tbs paprika powder • 1 tsp ground caraway seeds • 1 tsp dried rosemary • 1 bayleaf • ground black pepper and salt according to taste • 1 cups vegetable stock • 2 cups water

Directions: 1. Heat the oil in heavy base large sauce pot and on medium heat in batches, brown the flour coated beef cubes. Lift with slotted spoon and set aside. 2. In the same pot add the butter and onions and gently fry until they get a nice golden brown colour. 3. Add the garlic, and fry for 2 minutes and then sprinkle with paprika powder, caraway seeds, while stirring to prevent the paprika from burning. 4. Add the beef cubes, the tomatoes and water and cook on low to medium heat for 40 mins. Or till the meat is half-cooked, 5. Now add the diced carrots, parsnip, celery, potatoes, rosemary, bay leaf and the vegetable stock - plus more water to cover, if necessary. Seasoning to taste and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, and let it cook slowly for another 40 mins and enjoy with bread and a salad. usu

In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 31

27/08/2009 5:09:23 p.m.

Friday 18 September

Get some friends together, choose a country, then register at USU Reception Seven-a-side - maximum 10 people per team Competitive and Social Divisions  Registration closes 16 September $45 Entry fee per team payable upon registration

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usu OCIATION

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More details available from

In Unison, Technology Issue.indd 32